WASHINGTON – Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), released the following statement upon the announcement of the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Michael P. Huerta as deputy administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

“The U.S. airline industry has before it a wide range of opportunities to enhance safety for all who rely on our nation’s air transportation system. We are pleased that this important position at the Federal Aviation Administration has been filled and that another critical step has been taken in ensuring that the regulator is poised to act on these opportunities.

Mr. Huerta brings to the post in-depth experience in transportation policy. We look forward to working together with Mr. Huerta and his colleagues throughout the FAA to swiftly take on pressing issues such as modernizing pilot flight- and duty-time regulations and to continue to achieve the highest safety standards for our nation’s airline passengers, crews, and cargo.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 53,000 pilots at 38 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at
www.alpa.org.